Report: Lebanon opposition, which blames Syria for Beirut bombing, repeats call for new government

Report: Lebanon opposition, which blames Syria for Beirut bombing, repeats call for new government

Lebanese soldiers patrol the Corniche al-Mazraa neighbourhood of the capital Beirut, on October 22, 2012. The army said it was determined to restore order in Lebanon, roiled by growing political tensions linked to Syria after a top policeman was murdered and former premier Rafiq Hariri called for the government to step down.

Blaming Syria for a Beirut car bomb attack that killed a senior intelligence official last week, the main opposition alliance in Lebanon is increasing pressure on the Hezbollah-dominated government to resign, the Associated Press reported.

Since the bombing, the anti-Syria opposition has made calls for the country's government to step down. Lebanon's current government is dominated by Hezbollah, an ally of Syria.

On Wednesday, the opposition bloc said rival groups can't begin to negotiate until the government resigns, according to the AP.

"The government, through its leader and the political groups that back him, takes major responsibility for facilitating the plan of the criminal Assad regime," a statement from the opposition read, according to the AP.

On Tuesday, the United States had said it supported the creation of a new government in Lebanon, insinuating that it needed leadership that will take a harder line against Syria, Agence France Presse reported.

"President Suleiman is engaged in discussions with all parties to form a new government. We support that process," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said, adding, "The export of instability from Syria threatens the security of Lebanon now more than ever, and it's really up to the Lebanese people to choose a government that is going to counter this threat."

On Monday, the Lebanese army urged political parties not to escalate tensions in the country following the Friday bombing.

In a statement to the BBC, a Lebanese army official implored "all political leaders to be cautious when expressing their stances and opinions, because the fate of the nation is at stake."